Help File for CP6 installations:
syntax:
!vutex f1 [over f2] [(p1 [,p2]...)]
purpose:
vutex processor will print a TeX produced dvi file to an ordinary ASCII device
f1 - name of an existing dvi file created by TeX.
f2 - name of a valid ASCII output device.
If no file name for f2 is entered, output will default to user console
p1,p2,... options to control output
Options:
The available options are given by:
S or s : for the starting page number
P or p : for the number of pages, beginning at S
W or w : for the width of the page in characters before truncation
T or t : for true TeX spacing as opposed to compressed
G or g : to initiate processing without further dialog
If no option is entered, you will be prompted for 4 parameters, all of which may
be defaulted by simply hitting RETURN.
For example,
!vutex file_dvi over LP@LASER
This is vutex, DPS8/CP6 Version 1.00
Starting page (default=*): *
Maximum number of pages (default=1000000): *2
Output truncated at column (default=160): *80
Compress interword spaces, Y or N (default=Y): *
' TeX output 1989.02.28:1029'
- Page [1] [2]
The first two are identical to those for dvilg8 and dvism, namely starting page
number and number of pages to type. The third prompt is for the page width in
characters (on most terminals, this is 80; on printers, this is 132).
The fourth option allows the user to compress the spacing between words to one
space. The text for each line will begin in the proper column at the left
margin but all other TeX spacing between words will be reduced to one space.
If the user should not select the compress option, each separate word will be
left justified in the the space provided by TeX, and sup and super scripts will
usually appear on separate lines. This option is most useful for tables and
mathematical equations.
An example of a command line invocation with options is given by:
vutex file_dvi over file_vut (s=2,p=4,t)
Seeing TeX output!
One of the more frustrating things about TeX and its precise positioning of
characters is that ``what you get is far more than what you can see'' on an
ordinary ASCII terminal. The only devices for TeX output on the mainframe have
been the laser printers, and that usually equates to running to get ( and
waiting for ) your output, and excessive waste of paper. Note that at most
installations, laser output is costed at about 10 times that produced by
ordinary hammer printers.
So, a program has been written to allow the TeX user to preview the output
before sending it to the laser printer. Of course, the terminal screen (or an
ordinary printer) still cannot handle the fine spacing of TeX, nor can it
display all the characters you might wish to print. But, you will see an
approximation to the spacing of words across the line and lines down the page.
If your output was to a file, such as *vut in the example, you may copy that
file to an ordinary line printer, or you may use a screen editor to view it.
Note the following:
1. Some characters may not appear because they landed in a place already
occupied. Two characters from a small TeX font may fit into the space provided
on the screen, so vutex can only print one such character.
2. The output with true TeX spacing, may be wider than an ordinary screen
of 80 characters, or even a printer page of 132 characters. With ordinary text
you can compress the text and substantially reduce the width of the page, but
text with lots of off-line text will appear best in true TeX mode. A screen
editor may be used to view the output by switching from left to right side of
the page. The present installation limits the width to 160 characters per line.
3. Lines of small type or with extraordinary small interline spacing may
appear superimposed in spaces in the previous line.
4. \special has not been implemented and will be ignored by vutex.
5. If characters are missing from a line because of truncation or
superimposition, then a > sign will appear in the first position of that line.
6. Unprintable characters from ASCII fonts, such as Greek symbols,
and special math symbols, etc. will appear as # marks. However, as much as
possible, vutex will try to print a meaningful character to suggest what is in
the TeX output e.g. S is used to replace an integral sign.
7. A + sign in the first position of a line means that it contains super
scripts to the next line down, while a - sign means that it contains sub
scripts to the previous line up.
8. At the end of each TeX page, a ruler is drawn (in centimeters) to
indicate the horizontal scale (this will not appear on the TeX output to a
printer). Usually the vertical scale is only an approximation of the true TeX
spacing, and some pages may appear physically shorter than others. If it is
desired that all pages be the same length, perhaps with a form feed, this
alteration can be made to the code.